#eric kinsella

[nomilkinmyteaplease]

Sam Keeley as Eric Kinsella in Kin

[aidansplaguewind]

did they really kill off Aidan in yet another show? that’s so lame. and he was looking really good in those gifsets you made…

I'm not sure but maybe I should put a TRIGGER WARNING for unaliving oneself being mentioned. But I don't use the "S" word.

My reply is below the cut.

YES, they sure as shit did. And you're right, he looked AMAZING this season. So fucking hot. I wanted more of that next season.

Even though I predicted his demise from almost the very beginning, and I even predicted the way in which he would die (self inflicted) - I still had the tiniest bit of hope that he would come out of his funk, kill Bren and become the leader they needed.

I thought to myself, there is NO WAY this show will duplicate its exact ending to the first season, again at the end of the second season. They literally ended season one and season two with Frank dying. Only this time he's gone for good. But how incredibly lazy is that? It's so fucking lame.

And I went on Twitter and looked at the #RTEKIN tag to see what the public was saying, and their dumb asses thought it was bloody brilliant. Like? Seriously? No wonder television sucks nowadays. It's because the vast majority of the public viewers aren't too bright and they're apparently very easy to amuse. So the writers don't even have to try.

I'm being mean, I know, but I am so tired of Aidan’s characters being killed off. I'm used to it, but I'm tired of it. I'm ready for him to be on something and have a long run again. Knowing my luck he'll get something for the long haul and they will dye his hair, make him look ridiculous, and make him have an American Accent.

I'm also really tired or predictable television and films.

Watching Aidan put a gun to his head kind of shook me. Luckily, once he puts it to his head, the screen went black and you hear the shot, so you don’t actually have to watch it happen. But it still bothered me. I know it's not real but just the idea was kind of traumatic for me, and I really wasn't expecting it to be. It's been almost 24 hours since I saw it and I'm still processing it.

I'm just so bummed. So very fucking bummed. We got to see more of who Frank was. I got attached and I knew I shouldn't. And even though I won't watch to find out, I feel so bad for Birdy losing her baby brother. And even though Viking and Frank weren't close, watching his dad unalive himself right in front of him is so gotta fuck him up. How could it not? I'm so tired of television writers going for shock value because they aren't capable of writing an interesting story or character.

I'm tired.

[dixiec89]

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Sneak peak from episode 2 of Kin

[rocketyoyo]

Stills from the penultimate episode of KIN season 2.

x

Bren, Viking and Birdy. x

seeing this photo makes me feel like there is really something bad going to happen to Frank. PLEASE DON'T KILL HIM! 🥺😢

[glowstick-lesbian]

Okay I’m not sure if anyone knows or is able to help me, but how are people streaming KIN? I can’t seem to find a place to stream it and I’m really sad about it. I’d prefer to stream it somehow than pirate it through somewhere but so far I’m out of luck. If anyone has any suggestions or answers I would appreciate it.

[vampirekangaroo]

I'm finally getting around to watching Kin season 2 and sweet lord have mercy to that one scene in episode 3 with Michael, Bren, Birdy, and Eric. If he ever needs an alibi, I was with him. He couldn't have done whatever was said to have happened. Michael just moved Thomas Shelby way up on my list of characters/shows I need to watch. I understand my mom's love for mobster films/shows in a whole new way now.

[tudorblogger]

Monthly Reading Summary

Check out my review of what I read in February!

[bellaxgiornata]

I Can't Lose You [part one]

Pairing: Michael Kinsella x Fem!Reader Word Count: 3.2k

Summary: The night doesn't go as planned after being tasked by Amanda to seduce a rival drug lord in order to seal the deal for claim to more territory for the Kinsellas. When Michael finds out from his brother what happened, he's not happy with you for following Amanda's orders.

Warnings/tags: light angst, overprotective Mikey, love confession

a/n: This mental image of an upset and protective Mikey going off on Reader hit me hard and I wrote this almost entirely in one day because of it. And honestly, part of me wouldn't mind expanding on things with these two at some point because I sort of love them already... Feedback is always appreciated!

Michael Kinsella One Shot Tag List: @danzer8705 @shouldbestudying41 @kmc1989 @ebathory997 @mattkinsella @shiorimakibawrites @wkndwlff @pinkratts @lazyxsquirrel @1988-fiend @stilldreaming666 @will-delete-this-later-probably @yarrystyleeza

Holding onto the wall for balance, you slipped out of your heels by the front door. Worn out, you slowly took them off one at a time, dropping each one to the floor with a groan. Your body was stiff and sore from the night's horrible turn of events and you were just glad you'd made it home alive. 

With your heels finally off, you bent down to pick them up and put them away in your closet, but abruptly you paused halfway, hissing in pain as your hand flew to the bruise that had to be forming along your ribs. Gritting your teeth together, you straightened back up. Awkwardly limping down your entryway hall and past your kitchen, a hand still pressed to your side, you made your way through your house and towards your bathroom. You’d just leave your shoes where they were, too sore and exhausted to deal with them tonight. 

Flipping on the lights in the bathroom, you limped over to stand before the sink. Carefully your hands reached down to your mid-thigh, pulling the hem of your dress all the way up to your chest. You winced as you saw the dark mark forming, stretching all along the left side of your ribs reflecting back at you in the mirror. It was only a matter of time before that became a disgusting and angry looking bruise.

With a sigh you released your dress, the fabric easily falling back down and covering you. Burying your face in your hands, you internally cursed yourself for having made such a stupid mistake. You knew better than to have reacted the way you had, but O’Brien had crossed a line. One you weren’t willing to cross for the sake of Amanda’s orders. But you certainly hadn’t expected that sort of reaction out of him. Thankfully it had been Jimmy she’d sent with you for the job instead of Eric–or God forbid, Michael . There probably would’ve been bloodshed had they accompanied you this evening and witnessed the way Sean O’Brien had treated you.

The sound of your front door flying open and the handle roughly slamming into the wall tore loudly through the stillness of your house. Hands flying down from your face, you startled in terrified surprise. Had O’Brien’s men come for further revenge? Had you embarrassed him that much? 

But then you heard Michael’s familiar and enraged voice calling your name sharply through the house. Eyes closing, you grimaced at the sound. He was pissed, you could hear it in the way he was shouting your name. Which meant Jimmy must’ve told him what happened tonight already.

"Where the hell are ya?" he yelled. “I know you’re home already!”

Shoulders dropping in defeat, you realized you weren’t going to be able to hide this from him like you’d planned to do. Cautiously stepping out of the bathroom, you turned the light off on your way into the hallway. Swallowing thickly at the sound of his angry footsteps storming into your sitting room, you gradually made your way down the length of your hallway towards him. Stopping in the entrance to the sitting room, you leant up against the wall, eyeing Michael’s tense form as he scanned your back garden through the window.

“I’m right here, Mikey,” you weakly called back.

He spun swiftly on his heels, his lips set in a thin line as he fixed you with his hardened stare and that stern expression etched over his features. Eyes pinching tight at the sight of you, he briskly crossed the room in a few quick, agitated steps. You could feel your heart slamming nervously in your chest over and over the closer he neared. That look on his face was not one you saw often, and certainly not one he’d ever directed at you. He looked ready to kill.

When he reached you, he immediately slammed both of his hands onto the wall on either side of your head with a sharp bang , caging you in between his arms. You flinched at the harsh noise as both of his palms hit the wall while he lowered his face to yours. With him standing this close, you could see just how livid he was, his hazel eyes practically alight with rage.

“What the hell were ya thinkin’?” he growled low. “Are ya fuckin’ daft now? Is that it?”

“Amanda wanted the deal set with O’Brien,” you told him, your own blood beginning to boil at the way he was speaking to you. “If ya have a problem with that, maybe ya should take it up with her instead o’ crashin’ into my place hollerin’ at the top o' your lungs.”

Michael’s head tilted to the side, his eyes twitching at the corner as he stared you down. “I know ya aren’t this fuckin’ stupid,” he hissed. “ Seducin’ Sean O’Brien? That sounded like a grand idea to score the deal, did it? The fuckin’ Titan–ya know that’s what they call him, don’t ya?”

“I don’t give a sheep’s arse what they call him,” you snapped. “He’s a goddamn prick and we needed his northern territory to expand, Mikey. Ya already know that.”

“So what?” he asked, voice lowering to something dangerous that had the hairs on the back of your neck raising. “Ya were just goin’ to fuck ‘em, were ya? Like ya were nothin’ better than a goddamn whore? That what ya wanted? His filthy fuckin’ hands all over ya?”

You pulled a face at his words, hurt and rage coursing through you at the cruelty and crassness in them. That wasn’t like the Mikey you’d always known, not even when he was upset with you. Without thinking, your hand rose up, swinging forward through the air in anger. Though Michael saw it coming. His hand darted forward, catching yours by the wrist and immediately halting its movements. Jaw clenching, you fought to free your hand from his hold, but all he did was pin it to the wall beside your head.

“Jimmy said he hurt ya,” Michael continued, his tone softening. His eyes lowered, scanning what he could see of your body. “What’d he do?”

You tried to shake out of his grip, but Michael didn’t move. He stood solidly just before you, his eyes darting back up to yours. The muscle began to jump in his cheek in irritation when you remained silent.

“What’d he do?” he asked again, an edge to the question.

“Hit me,” you grudgingly ground out.

Michael’s eyes narrowed, an emotion crossing behind them that you couldn’t place. You knew he’d react horribly if he’d found out what happened tonight; you'd known that the moment Amanda ordered you and Jimmy to schmooze O’Brien. Especially when she asked you to wear this particular dress that didn't cover much and demanded you openly flirt with him. But you certainly hadn’t expected that Michael would be quite this pissed–not at you, at least.

“He hit you?” he asked, his voice terrifyingly calm as he enunciated each word.

“And threw me around a bit,” you answered stiffly. “Because I did what Amanda asked but refused to go so far as to fuck him.” You glared venomously back at Michael as you bitterly added, “Because I don’t consider myself a damn whore .”

You heard the rough hiss of breath he expelled at your words, his nostrils flaring sharply. That rage was burning just behind his eyes again now. You could practically feel the heat of his anger as he kept you pinned to the wall.

“Show me,” he ordered. "Jimmy said ya were hurt. So show me."

“Michael, I don’t–”

“Show me,” he demanded more fiercely.

You stood there for a second, contemplating if it was possible to get out of this. To get him to calm down and just leave. But truthfully you knew better than that. You knew Michael better than that. He wasn’t going anywhere until he got his answers–which apparently included visual proof of what happened earlier.

Sighing, you lowered your left hand–the one which Michael didn’t still have pinned to the wall with his large one–and gradually began to pull the hem of your dress all the way up your body to reveal your ribcage. You shuddered at the cold air on your skin, goosebumps raising as Michael’s focus shifted downward onto your body. You were vaguely aware of the fact that your underwear was on full display with how high your dress was pulled up, leaving you in a state of undress that Mikey had never seen you in before. One you’d often wished for–but certainly not like this.

The moment Michael took in the sight of your injured side, his entire expression shifted instantly. The anger quickly dissipated, his features softening. His right hand left the wall beside your head, lowering down to your side before he gently brushed his fingertips along the skin beside the quickly forming bruise. He winced, his brows pinching tight together on his forehead.

“I’m goin’ to get us out o’ this,” he whispered, fingers still gently brushing along your skin. “I promise ya, I’ll get us out o’ everythin’.”

“Yeah,” you muttered, “so ya always say.”

His gaze drew back up to yours, something sad and pained in them reflecting back at you. It was a haunted look you’d seen often on Michael’s face in the years you’d been friends with him. One that seemed to have a more permanent place in his eyes after his time in prison.

“I can’t lose ya,” he whispered.

You lowered your dress, pushing his hand off of you as you did. The emotional walls you usually kept up felt like they were returning now, your anger at the way he’d been speaking to you only moments ago returning.

“Neither of us are gettin’ out o’ this shit, Mikey,” you spat. “You’re damn family wouldn’t let it happen. We both know that. So if ya got a problem with the way things happened this evenin’, I suggest ya take it up with your precious Amanda instead of fumin’ at me. I’m fuckin’ tired and it’s the last thing I need tonight.”

Michael’s head tilted to the side, confusion crossing his features next. Slowly, he released your wrist, and you immediately crossed your arms over your chest, covering a bit of your cleavage that the dress displayed all too well.

“What the hell are ya talkin’ ‘bout?” he asked, shaking his head. “"My precious Amanda'…?”

“Oh come off it, Mikey,” you snapped, still irritated with how he'd barged into your house and yelled at you. “I know ya still love her. I’m not an idiot. So why don’t ya take your anger out on the one who thought it a good idea to whore me out this evenin’, yeah?”

“I am not in love with Amanda,” he stated firmly. 

You scoffed loudly, rolling your eyes. “Absolute bullshit, that is. You’ve been chasin’ after her for ages. And when she chose Jimmy over ya…” 

You trailed off, mouth snapping shut as Michael’s anger appeared to be quickly returning. As pissed as you were, you didn’t have the heart to mention Allison. You weren’t cruel.

Taking a sharp step forward, Michael was suddenly back in your face. His eyes were narrowed as they darted back and forth between yours, almost searching for something. You remained absolutely still, your arms hugging yourself a bit tighter at his reaction.

“I’ve never loved Amanda,” Michael growled out. “Not even back then, when we were kids just messin’ around. Because all these fuckin’ years I’ve always only ever been in love with you.”

Mouth falling open in shock, you felt like the air had been knocked from your lungs. Had you just heard him correctly?

“Except you have never wanted anythin’ serious with anyone! Ever!” he continued in a frenzy. “You’re the only one I ever wanted, but all ya ever wanted was to see what else was out there! And here I thought about ya every damn day–even when my arse was in that fuckin’ prison, just hopin’ one day I’d finally get out o’ there and fulfil my promise to ya. To get us both out o’ this shit,” he roared, chest heaving as he grew more impassioned. “And now I come to find ya were out seducin’ the goddamn Titan tonight and–and gettin’ beat for refusin’ to fuck him? Ya think I’m not goin’ to be fuckin’ angry ‘bout that, d’ya now, pet?”

You were still standing there with your back pressed against the wall, entirely shocked at everything he’d just said. All these years you’d thought he was in love with Amanda. You thought he’d married Allison because Amanda had chosen his brother over him. Figured that you were never anything more than just his friend and a part of the Kinsella business. Someone passed over when it came to his feelings. 

But he loved you?

“Michael–”

He held up a hand, cutting you off. “I don’t want to fuckin’ hear another damn word,” he snapped. “I’m goin’ to deal with that damned O’Brien my-fuckin’-self. But first I’m goin’ to have some words with Amanda because what she set ya up to do tonight is never happenin’ again. And don’t think I’m done yellin’ at ya for what happened, either.”

“Michael–”

“Because I’m not!” he continued, loudly talking over you. “This isn’t what ya do for us! And ya shouldn’t have agreed to it–”

“Michael!”

“You’re better than this!” he shouted. “Ya deserve better than this! And I won’t stand for–”

“Would ya shut the fuck up for just a damned minute so I could tell ya I love ya too, ya fuckin’ arsehole!” you yelled over him.

Michael stiffened before you, blinking hard a few times as he finally grew quiet. You could feel heat creeping up your neck, unable to believe you’d finally admitted it aloud to him after all this time. Now he knew, after you’d spent so long trying to hide that truth from him.

“What?” he breathed out.

Licking your lips nervously, your arms hugged yourself tighter. “I’ve always been in love with ya. But ya always were so focused on Amanda.” You shrugged, eyes dropping down to the floor. “Figured I was nothin’ more than your friend, Mikey. So I did my best to hide my feelings. Didn’t want to make things…weird between us. I only ever slept around because I couldn’t have ya. Not because I was tryin’ to see what all was out there.”

“So–so all this time…?” he whispered, his eyes growing wide.

You nodded slowly, looking back up at him as the shock of the truth was still hitting you. That he had feelings for you as well.

“Yes,” you answered.

Silence fell between the pair of you in the hallway, both of you standing there with your eyes locked on one another. Neither of you moved, though you saw the way Michael blinked harder a few times before his attention dropped down to your lips. Pulse quickening, your focus shifted to his mere inches from yours. You could feel your breath beginning to come in shallower, the sound of it loud in your ears in the stillness. 

How long had you thought about kissing him? How many years had passed where you dreamt about it? How many long nights had you laid awake in bed knowing he was with someone else, feeling it tear at your insides? 

And now here he was admitting to having always loved you. Possibly having spent all those same years feeling the jealousy and hurt that you did.

Slowly, your eyes made their way back up Michael’s handsome face. His hazel eyes were already focused back on yours. You'd barely inhaled half a breath before he took you by surprise, abruptly lunging at you as both of his hands darted forward, firmly grabbing your face just before his mouth crashed hard onto yours. 

Every single thought disappeared from your mind the second your back hit the wall behind you. Michael’s mouth was moving frantically against yours, the sound of sharp gasps filling the air each time his mouth broke away only to reconnect to yours. You weren’t even sure if it was you, or him, or the both of you making those hurried, desperate noises as your hands wrapped around him, fingers digging into the toned muscles of his back through his sweater. You were too busy struggling to keep up with the feverish and hungry way Michael’s mouth was moving against yours, as if he'd been wanting this for as long as you had. As if he physically couldn’t stop himself from kissing you.

And you were just as eager. Your fingers were wildly clawing at his back, trying your hardest to draw him closer to you while simultaneously trying to not to press your injured side to his body with the way you were holding him to the front of you. But you wanted him. Needed him. 

But when he abruptly pulled back, you whined loudly in frustration and protest. Eyes flying open and hands fisting the fabric of his sweater, you glanced up at him. He was breathing heavier, his brows knitted together as his lips glistened with both of your saliva.

“I need to speak with Amanda,” he breathed out.

Something white hot shot through you, your face immediately twisting into anger at his words. That was not a name you wanted to hear at the moment. Michael clearly saw the way your expression shifted and he was quickly opening his mouth before you even had a chance to respond.

"I'm goin' to tell Amanda off for what she asked ya to do tonight," he told you, shaking his head. "She's never doin' that again. I'm goin' to make damn sure of it."

"Can't ya do it tomorrow?" you asked. "Stay with me instead tonight, Mikey?"

He smiled softly back at you, both of his hands still cradling your face between his palms. One of his thumbs began to lightly stroke your cheek, the gesture so tender and gentle. You leaned into his touch, your anger rapidly leaving you.

"I'll be back right after, love," he promised. "I want to finish this, I do. The conversation we need to have and–and whatever else might happen after that,” he said, a faint smile brightening his face before it melted away again. “But Amanda crossed a line tonight, and I'm damn well goin' to make sure she fuckin' knows it. ‘M'not goin' to let it go until the mornin'. It's far too important for that. You’re far too important for me to put it off. Then I’m goin’ to have a word with Jimmy. What O’Brien did to ya won’t go unanswered, either. I promise ya that, pet."

Overcome with emotion at Michael’s fierce protectiveness, you closed the distance between the pair of you once more. Though this time when you pressed your lips to Michael’s, it was far more delicate than the kiss the pair of you had shared a moment ago. His mouth responded immediately, his lips moving so sweetly against yours as he continued to cradle your face, keeping you close. Your arms were tightening around his back, pulling him into an embrace that you wished you’d never have to leave.

“Come back to me after?” you whispered, reluctantly breaking away from his lips.

Michael’s hand slid back, tucking some hair behind your ear. Lowering his forehead to yours, he affectionately nuzzled his nose to yours next, the gesture drawing forth a smile from you.

“Always, love,” he murmured. “I’ll always come back to ya.”

[theimpalatales]

I adore the cinematography in Kin, particularly in the first few episodes of season 1 (directed by Diarmuid Goggins).

There's a voyeurism to many of the shots that place things like furniture, doors or windows in the foreground between the characters and the camera, creating distance between us and them – like we, the audience, are privy to family matters we shouldn't be seeing.

There's a sense of intensity and a fight for control to the extreme edges of the frame the characters are painted into.

And, as intense and powerful as the characters can feel, there is always the sense that the world is bigger than them. The characters are, ultimately, swallowed up by the world.

I think this is so clever because it feels like such a fresh way to shoot a show about gangsters, and it completely fits with many of Kin's themes. Throughout Kin, we see a fairly humanistic exploration of gang families and how difficult it can be for the characters to become free from the criminal endeavours they're surrounded by; once you dip your toe in the pond, you're sucked in. Events have a way of spiralling out of an individual's control, and actions have severe consequences that manifest like falling dominoes.

The world the characters inhabit is bigger than them; the house always wins. It doesn't matter that Mikey wants to stay clean to better his chances of seeing his daughter again, or that Amanda doesn't want her son having anything to do with the family's criminal activities. Even as they wrestle for control of their lives, it's made apparent that they're up against forces bigger than any of them. They are Kinsellas, they exist within this criminal world, and they will have to face the consequences of that.

But neither are these characters helpless. They are in constant conflict with each other to shape the world how they want it to be. They are characters fighting for their survival, for their right to live the way they want to (whether we agree that's morally acceptable or not). We even see explicit examples of characters like Mikey and Amanda being in a position to walk away from the family business and leave it all behind. But this isn't truly what they want.

The Kinsellas go up against Eamon Cunningham. We watch Amanda orchestrate assassinations to hit back at the men who killed her son. Eric is the first Kinsella we see carry out an execution. Mikey (briefly) engages the legal system to be able to see his daughter, and then he and Anna disregard the court's orders for them to have no contact. And the Kinsellas are constantly butting heads with each other as they reap the rewards of their criminal activities. They each have agency and power that they use to try to stay afloat in this treacherous world. The characters' conflict and struggle are visually apparent in the framing and composition of the shots.

Finally, going back to the first point I made (and, wow, I had no idea I'd be making a post this long, I am so sorry!): the voyeurism. From my (little) understanding, gang members in Ireland have almost a reality star-status. The public know who they are, the papers are constantly reporting on them, and their lives appear to be glamorous and, to some, enviable in some ways. Kin almost entirely strips this perspective away to look at the individuals behind this sense of celebrity, to examine the traumatic impact of being involved in a world so deadly and dangerous.

The wealth and glamour is present, but it isn't the focus of the show. Instead, what we get feels like an exposé, a peak behind the curtain into the true lives of these gangsters. Mikey suffers from epileptic fits often brought on by the stress of the job. Amanda and Jimmy lose their son and we watch them grieve. Eric goes to prison and his girlfriend struggles with the drastic change to their relationship. The list goes on as we are treated to the serious and real consequences of being part of this criminal world.

The colour grading and lighting also help hammer this home. It's neither highly saturated or overly desaturated. Rather than having the contrast bumped up, it almost appears soft. Against a backdrop of criminality and drama, the visuals of Kin invite its audience to view these characters as people first, to view them and their actions with empathy, if not always sympathy.

Kin is a show with something to say, and it knows how to use its cinematography to deliver that message to its audience.

[loveroftoomanyfandoms]

It's Always Been Us - Michael Kinsella x Reader

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Michael Kinsella x F!Reader

Story Summary: The continuing saga of Michael and Reader, starting with the morning after It's Always Been You.

Warnings/Tags for entire story: S2E7 & S2E8 AU, Oral sex (m & f receiving), p in v sex (like... a lot of it -- these two have 20 years to make up for), past attempted non-con (if you've seen S2 you know what's up), other additional tags to be added as we go along.

Word Count: ~1700 for this chapter

A/N: It's missing Mikey hours, so here's a new chapter of IABU!

(Also, I can't believe it's been an entire year since I updated this. 😬 Sorry about that.)

If you'd like to be added to the tag list for this or any of my other stories/characters, hit me up!

Michael stirred awake at the text alert on his phone, then carefully reached over to check it so he didn't disturb Y/N, who was sleeping peacefully with her head on his chest.

He unlocked it and opened the text.

From: Birdy

Meeting at Amanda's in 30 minutes.

Michael sighed. He had hoped to be able to spend the morning with Y/N before she had to go home to get ready for work, but no such luck.

He slowly began to slide out from under her.

Y/N let out a little groan and tightened her hold on him, burying her face further into his chest. “Mmph, no, Mikey, not time ta get up yet.”

Michael chuckled and carded a hand through her hair. “Birdy jus’ texted. I hafta get ta Amanda's fer a meetin’.”

Y/N sighed against his skin and loosened her hold, but stayed snuggled to his chest. “Okay. I'll get up and get goin’ then so ya can go do tha’.”

Michael bit his lip. A selfish part of him wanted to keep Y/N in his bed for as long as possible, and besides, he had a feeling that he was going to need her support after the meeting.

He shook his head. “No, love, ya can stay. I hopefully won’ be too long.”

Y/N nodded and pressed a kiss to his chest, then moved her head to the pillows. “Mmm, okay then.”

Michael smiled then leaned over and gave Y/N a kiss on her lips. “Love ya.”

Y/N gave him another kiss before letting him go. “Love ya too, Mikey.”

Michael slid out of bed and went to go take a quick shower, and upon returning to his bedroom to dress he found Y/N had fallen back asleep.

He took a moment to study her. She was even more beautiful in slumber, the stress and worry she carried with her free from her features.

He dressed as silently as possible so as not to disturb her, then pressed a soft kiss to her shoulders before slowly pulling his duvet over her.

He headed downstairs then out the door to walk across to Amanda's.

“Mornin’,” he said as Amanda opened the door.

"Yer’ awfully chipper," Amanda remarked, her eyebrow raised.

She stepped out of the doorway so Michael could enter. "Good night?"

Michael couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, good night."

Amanda scoffed, clearly in a bad mood about something. "Does it hafta do with tha' blonde I saw leavin' yer house tha other day? Because ya know how dangerous it is bringin' a stranger 'round, especially now --"

Michael shook his head. "Nah, tha's nothin' ta worry about."

"Then where were ya? I know ya weren' home las’ night, I tried ta come 'round."

Michael sighed, his own good mood quickly deflating. He was hoping to get business out of the way before he started being grilled about his personal life. "Actually, I was --"

He was interrupted by Amanda's gate opening once again, Birdy giving a wave as she stepped through with Eric in tow.

Amanda gave him a look as if to say, 'this isn't over' before opening the door.

"Mornin'," Birdy said as she and Eric entered.

Michael gave her a kiss on the cheek before nodding at Eric. "Mornin', Birdy, Viking."

"Eric wants ta join in on tha plan," Birdy said.

"Bren's been threatenin' Nikki," Eric explained, "and I ain't fuckin’ havin' tha'."

Michael nodded. "Okay. So we're all in agreement, then?"

“Eric wants something firs’,” Birdy said.

Amanda scoffed. “And wha’s that?”

“I wan’ ta reopen tha houses,” Eric replied. “Run ‘em my way.”

Michael nodded. He completely understood -- by running the houses Eric would no longer be under Amanda's thumb and could do whatever he pleased.

“Fine,” Amanda agreed. “But yer supply has ta come from us.”

Eric nodded. “Agreed.”

“Okay then.”

Eric ran a hand through his hair. "What about Frank and Jimmy? Are we tellin' them abou’ tha plan?"

Michael shook his head. “Jimmy probably wouldn' agree ta it.”

“And Frank's got his own things he's dealin' wit' right now,” Birdy added. “I don' wan' ta add ta tha’.”

Eric nodded. "So when are we gonna do it, then?"

"Best time would probably be tonight after hours at tha pub," Michael explained. "Better fer an ambush, fewer people ‘round."

" Tonight ?"

Michael nodded. “Bren’s hirin’. Tha longer we wait tha harder it’ll be ta do.”

Eric nodded. “Makes sense. So how are we doin’ this?”

They all quickly hashed out the details of the plan.

“Alrigh’, everyone knows their roles,” Birdy concluded. “We meet back here a’ six.”

"Wait," Michael said as everyone got up to leave. "There's somethin' else I need ta talk about."

He took a deep breath as everyone looked at him expectantly. "Y/N and I are seein' each other."

"Ya are?" Birdy replied in surprised delight. "Since when?"

"Couple days. I went over ta her place ta talk and one thing kinda led ta another and, well…" Michael shrugged, unable to keep a grin off of his face.

“I fuckin’ knew it!” Eric crowed. “Jimmy and Frank both owe me 500 quid -- We've had a bet goin' since ya came home las' year about whether or not ya'd get yer head outta yer arse and finally make a move on tha doc. It's abou’ time ya two got ta fuckin'."

Birdy grimaced. "Eric, don' be so crude."

She wrapped her arms around Michael in a hug. "I'm happy fer ya both, love. It's no wonder ya look content this mornin' despite everythin' that's goin' on."

Amanda scoffed. "Am I tha only one who thinks this is a bad idea? Bringin' an outsider inta our family's personal business?"

"What are ya on about, ‘an outsider’ ?" Birdy replied. “Y/N’s been aroun’ jus’ as long as you yerself have -- longer, in fact. Like I've told ya before, just because she hasn't married inta tha family yet doesn' make her any less of a Kinsella.” 

Michael couldn't help but smile at Birdy's use of the word ‘ yet ’. “Y/N knows wha’ Bren’s done and agrees tha' he needs ta go before he hurts anyone else.” 

“Is she workin' tonight?” Eric asked.

Michael nodded. “Aye, but there's no worries about tha’. I'm gonna make absolutely fuckin’ sure tha’ she's not gonna hafta try ta save him.” Not after wha’ he did ta her.

Birdy nodded. “Well then tha’s settled. Everyone go get some rest -- we've got a long nigh’ ahead of us.”

As the group began to disperse, Eric clapped Michael on the back. “Seriously, mate, I'm happy fer you and tha doc. I've always liked her.”

Michael nodded with a small smile. “Thanks.”

He headed back to his house, smiling again when he could hear Y/N humming to herself in his kitchen.

All of the stress of the morning faded away as he walked in to see her standing at his kitchen counter drinking a cup of coffee, clad in his button-down shirt from the night before with her hair still wet from the shower.

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Good morning, love.”

Y/N set her coffee cup down and turned in his arms. “Mmm, good mornin’ ta ya too.”

She reached up and carded her fingers through the hair at Michael's temples. “How was yer meetin'?”

Michael sighed. “We're goin’ after Bren tonigh’. He’s plannin’ on making a power move, so we can' wait.”

Y/N took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Okay, jus’... be careful.” 

Michael nodded, glancing away from her.

Y/N cupped his face in her hands, bringing his gaze back to hers. “I'm serious , Michael. I absolutely canna’ lose ya.”

Michael gave her a soft kiss. “I will, love.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. If things feel even tha slightest bit off I'll call off tha entire plan.” Michael bit his lip. “I, er, I also told Birdy, Amanda, and Viking abou' us.”

A soft smile spread across Y/N’s face. “Ya did? Wha’ did they say?”

Michael huffed out a laugh. “Viking was fuckin’ delighted. Apparently he, Jimmy, and Frank had a wager goin' on abou' whether or not we'd get together. Viking won.”

Y/N shook her head with a fond smile. “I knew there was a reason I always liked Viking. Wha’ abou' Birdy and Amanda? How'd they take tha news?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Amanda said it wasn' a good idea ta bring an ‘outsider’ inta our family’s business, ta which Birdy replied tha’ yer’ definitely no outsider, tha’ ya’ve been aroun' even longer than Amanda has and tha’ even though ya haven' married inta tha family yet that didn' mean tha’ ya were any less of a Kinsella.”

Y/N huffed out a laugh. “Birdy really said ‘yet’?”

Michael nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “She's always considered ya one a’ us, ya know.”

Y/N nodded. “Aye, I know.”

Michael took a moment to appreciate the way his shirt showed off her thighs. “When do ya have ta leave ta go get ready fer work?”

Y/N shrugged. “Not until this afternoon, why?”

Michael stepped closer to her, boxing her in against the counter. “Because ya know wha’s even better than comin' home ta ya wearin' my clothes?"

He slid a hand up her inner thigh. groaning as Y/N's legs parted for him. "Comin’ home ta ya wearin’ only my clothes.”

Y/N gasped as Michael’s fingers caressed her uncovered core. “Couldn't find my knickers.”

Michael smirked. “How convenient fer me then.” 

He withdrew his hand and took a step back, grinning when Y/N let out a displeased whine. “How abou’ we head back upstairs and continue wit’ tha plans I had fer’ us this mornin’?”

Y/N pretended to think. “Well, tha’ depen’s. Do your plans involve us bein’ naked?”

Michael smirked. “Eventually, but firs’ I'm gonna fuck ya while you're wearin’ nothin’ but me shirt.”

Y/N took his hand. “Mmm, in tha’ case I suppose breakfast can wait. Lead tha way, love.”

Michael led her towards the stairs. No matter what happened later that evening, he was going to make whatever time he had with Y/N count.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🗞️📖 Bookish News 📖🗞️

🦇 Extra, extra. Read all about it! 📖 Good evening, bookish bats! A lot happened in the publishing industry last month, but here are a few highlights you may have missed!

Adaptations Jennifer Lopez's production company and Netflix - Emily Henry's Happy Place Laika (Travis Knight directing) - Susanna Clarke's Piranesi Universal (Taika Waititi directing?) - Percival Everett's James We Were Liars adds Rahul Kohli to the cast Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar have joined the cast of the Dexter prequel, Original Sin Chris McKay to direct Brynne Weaver’s Butcher and Blackbird Ayvan Williams, Jessica Belkin & Savannah Lee Smith casted for Becky Albertalli's The Upside of Unrequited First looks for Heartstopper S3 are out Apple TV - Laura Lippman's The Lady in the Lake Adult Swim - Anthony Bourdain’s graphic novel series, Get Jiro! UCP - Chris Witaker's All the Colors of the Dark The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson A24 - Jennifer Lawrence starring - Paul Rainey's Why Don't You Love Me? Netflix - Richard E. Grant and Tom Ellis casted for The Thursday Murder Club Sony - Michael Crichton and James Patterson's Eruption Renee Zellweger starring in 12 Months to Live Awesomeness - Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods The Uglies adaptation has a release date after 18 years (September 13) The trailer for Elin Hilderbrand's The Perfect Couple is up Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea is being adapted into a graphic novel Prime - Colin Firth joins the cast of Young Sherlock Universal - Omid Scobie's Royal Spin Netflix - Bridgerton Season 4 lead announced Amazon - Fourth Wing series adaptation is a go Apple TV - The trailer for Pachinko! Season 2 is up An adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Nickel Boys will open the 62nd New York Film Festival Patton Oswalt’s comic book Minor Threats is being adapted into a live-action series HBO - Dune: Prophecy releases in November

Cover Reveals Babylonia - Costanza Casati The Get Off - Christa Faust The Ragpicker King - Cassandra Clare What Does It Feel Like - Sophie Kinsella Wake Up and Open Your Eyes - Clay McLeod Chapman Ageless - Renee Schaeffer The Thirteenth Child - Erin A. Craig Song So Wild and Blue: A Life With Joni Mitchell - Paul Lisicky The Meadowbrook Murders - Jessica Goodman On Her Terms - Amy Spalding Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros The River Has Roots - Amal El-Mohtar The Wind Weaver - Julie Johnson In Gad We Trust - Josh Gad The Life of Herod the Great - Zora Neale Hurston (posthumous) The Other People - CB Everett How My Neighbor Stole Christmas - Meghan Quinn

Upcoming Releases I Saw the TV Glow director Jane Schoenbrun has a debut novel coming out, Public Access Afterworld Carol Moseley Braun is writing a memoir, Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics New memoir by Hilary Rodham Clinton The Road is Good - Uzo Aduba Leo Martino Steals Back His Heart - Eric Geron Viola Davis is co-writing with James Patterson

News Macmillan is launching a "new adult fiction" imprint. The 2024 Locus Award winners were announced The 2024 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards were announced Nebula Award winners were announced Random House is buying Boom! Studios

[charliethomascoxuniverse]

Hey, they updated the Kinsella family tree! 👀✨ 

Michael and Jimmy’s estranged sister finally has a name! 👍

(Also can’t help but notice there are three generations of Kinsellas in a row with two boys and a girl. First Bren, Frank, and Birdy. Then Michael, Jimmy, and Jenny. And then Jamie, Anthony, and Anna.)

(Still wondering about other stuff though...like who’s Eric’s mother? And where’s Birdy’s husband (her last name is Goggins, not Kinsella, so she married at some point)? Dead maybe? And did Birdy have a child who died at some point, as was suggested with her comment about a “f*cking madness” overtaking a mother when she loses a child? Or could she have been referring to her own mother perhaps? 

And of course, the mystery of Alison - Anna’s mother. Was she his wife or girlfriend? And was it truly Michael that killed her? And then Julie, Michael and Jimmy’s mother who abandoned them at some point, likely taking their sister with her. Yep, so many questions still up in the air...hopefully S2 will answer some of them.)

[modern-day-classic]

i was tagged by @waddinghamhannah. Thanks girliepop 💖

rules: spell your url with song titles and then tag as many people as there are letters.

M: My Love - Henry

O: Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger

D: Did It Again - Kylie Minogue

E: Eyes Don't Lie - Isabel LaRosa

R: Red Shoe Blues - Hannah Waddingham

N: November Rain - Guns n Roses

D: Dial Drunk - Noah Kahan

A: All I've Ever Known - Hadestown Cast

Y: You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart

C: Creepin' - 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, and The Weeknd

L: Lucky Me - Bachelor Girl

A: All At Once - Whitney Houston

S: Science Fiction - The Divinyls

S: Something Good - Julie Andrews

I: I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Wont Do That) - Meatloaf

C: Cocaine - Eric Clapton

All of these are from my liked playlist on Sp*tify 😅 so yes I am well aware it's incredibly eclectic

Tagging:

@reelega @movrings @biscuitboxpink @damelucyjo @hart-kinsella @queerhydrangea @sophiedevreaux @gilliandersons @thatgirlwasmeanttofly @knowthatiloveyou

PLUS ANYONE ELSE WHO SEES THIS AND WANTS TO DO IT

[mattmurdocksscars]

Here's a Mikey thot from me too, just to add on the pile~

You're over at Jimmy's at a Kinsella get together and Mikey's off listening to one of Eric's crazy stories but he notices you catching glimpses at him. You can't help it. He looks good and you can't wait to get back to his. But he feels good and decides to be a tease and just

does this, out of nowhere, completely uncalled for. You choke on your drink a little, and you try to wave it off, but Michael knows and he'll keep flexing randomly for the rest of the night just to drive you insane leaving you yearning to kiss every goddamned tattoo on his arms

What a little shit!!! He would do that too! Knowing you can't do a damn thing about it until yall leave. But he's definitely in for it when yall get home 😏

[iwasjustgoingthere]

Book list 2024

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella - good, especially the final result, but with that title I _was_ expecting more glam

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - So fun, but it's got a cliffhanger!! :(

My Murder by Katie Williams - cool book. A woman is killed by a serial killer and all his victims are revived with rare revival technology and they're in a support group together. She feels like her husband is hiding something

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - got so attached to the main character and his wife, my OTP now

Sure, I'll Join your Cult by Maria Bamford - not quite what I was hoping it would be (when you're so desperate to find your people you'll even join a cult) but it was something to read. I guess Maria Bamford is kind of well-known but I didn't realize it

Monday begins on a Saturday by the Strugatsky brothers - well, I read 80 pages of this and then called it quits. It's interesting but I think without enough cultural context I'm missing a lot and I wasn't enjoying the read

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin - <3 <3 <3

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi - picked this for "blind date with a book" (described as "if you liked Black Mirror, lost in translation, mystery" I believe) and was pleased with the result. I would have liked the book to have more plot but it had many very interesting topics and ideas that were also outside of my usual reading content so I'm glad I read it

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - very silly (enjoyable though), of course it was going to be silly but when the vampire gives her a list of things he needs help with, including to be caught up on 100 years of world history(!!!!) the first thing she does is show him Instagram, and that broke my disbelief I think. Generally I think the general SERIOUS implications of there being vampires with magical abilities is breezed past more than I personally can accept haha

Exhalation by Ted Chiang - Actually I'm not sure when I started this book but I finished it now! So good. Everyone please read Ted Chiang

A Little Life by Hanya Yanigihara - it's good but I don't feel the hype

The Burnout by Sophia Kinsella - the heroine is not smart but it was a fun book nonetheless

Der Traum von einem Baum by Maja Lunde - yes

Starter Villain by John Scalzi - Mom recommended it to me, I think the book is a bit too proud of itself but somehow I could really feel Mom while reading it. It was decent

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung - not as disturbing as I thought it would be. I read it really quickly, it was good.

Komplett Gänsehaut by Sophie Passmann - I read the first 40 pages and the last ten and decided that was enough. I am not a fan

Here for It by R. Eric Thomas - I liked this. Made me laugh out loud and I was moved at the end. A more relevant look at the world and the US than my own perspective

Die Einsame Bodybuilderin by Yukiko Motoya - Like a more wholesome and Japanese version of Cursed Bunny. This book was next to my grandmother's bed. I enjoyed the stories, even though some were confusing and I can't find decent analysis online!

Oh Honey by Emily Austin - darker than the other books by her I've read, but you can see the "family resemblance".

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - a quick reread to brighten my mood.

Mr Wrong Number by Lynn Painter - fun

The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - enjoyable! I read Pageboy kind of shortly afterwards and the similarities are interesting. Anyway, good book.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy - This was a good book. I don't really know her acting work but the book is very well written.

In Hinterräumen by Katharina Scholz - decent but took me longer to read than I expected, wasn't as good as I hoped

Pageboy by Elliot Page - heavy read at times but I read this quickly and like it.

Prophet by Sin Blaché, Helen Macdonald - not what I expected but not bad

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune - cute and a bit sad

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera - I've mostly already forgotten this one but it's not bad either

Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson - the narration is kind of annoying but unfortunately the book is good. The narrator is as transparent as possible and yet somehow things still sneak by. I love a murder mystery

Longyearbyen by Christine Kristoffersen Hansen and Ingun Alette Mæhlum - borrowed from library

Everyone on this train is a suspect by Benjamin Stevenson - see #29

I have some questions for you by Rebecca Makkai - good book. More political than expected, about Me Too and the intricacies of media coverage of attacks on women

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel - a reread before I gift it to my friend David

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - Surprised the book wasn't originally in another language but it's just that it has a similar to tone to like, Anxious People. I really enjoyed this

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman - finally, after I read the first two pages in January, I read the rest of the book. It went quicker than expected. A soldier is sent to war in space but due to time dilution he's quickly a major oddity entirely out of touch with the planet he's supposed to be fighting for. It's impressive

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peter - I learned a lot. Recommend

Everland by Rebecca Hunt - oh I really enjoyed this one, about two Antarctic expeditions and shows the parallels between them, very cool

Miracle and other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis - Connie Willis is cool. These stories are too, I definitely recommend these, they're very creative, some pretty independently from the christmas theme